What do we learn about Ralph, Piggy and Jack in the First chapter of Lord of the Flies?

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Lewis Mitchell                16th January,2002

What do we learn about Ralph, Piggy and Jack in the

First chapter of Lord of the Flies?

From the beginning we find out that these boys have been stranded as ‘the fat boy’ asks ‘the boy with fair hair’ where ‘the man with the megaphone is.’ ‘The boy with fair hair’ turns out to be Ralph. Strait away this shows us that Ralph is a good looking boy.

        When ‘the fat boy’ asks Ralph, ‘Aren’t there any grown-ups at all?’ Ralph replies ‘I don’t think so.’ He says this ‘solemnly’ at first ‘but then the delight of a realized ambition came over him.’ This shows that Ralph is going to love it on the island. As ‘the fat boy’ asks ‘what’s your name’ he replies ‘Ralph’ and then he ‘increases his speed’ showing us that he doesn’t really want to be seen with a ‘fat boy.’ More evidence of this is where ‘the fat boy’ runs off because of ‘them fruit’ he has eaten and Ralph again tries to escape ‘the fat boy.’  

    A little while later the two boys find a lagoon. Ralph here becomes conscious ‘of the weight of his clothes, kicked his shoes off fiercely and ripped off each stocking with its elastic garter in a single movement.’ This is representing the Garden of Eden as Ralph feels comfortable about being naked. This shows the athleticism of Ralph, at only ‘twelve years and a few months’ he had ‘lost the prominent tummy of childhood.’ And Ralph is able to show off his ‘golden body.’

When the two boys find the pool Ralph jumps into the water and piggy looks amazed, he then tells Ralph that he ‘can’t half swim.’ Ralph then replies that he could swim when he ‘was five’ and that his ‘daddy’ taught him, who happens to be ‘a commander in the Navy.’ This shows that Ralph probably came from a well brought up middle class family.   As piggy and Ralph are in the pool, Ralph finds a conch shell and admires its beauty and acts like it is a toy. Ralph tries to blow on the conch but makes a ‘farting noise.’ Both piggy and Ralph laugh at this reminding you that these boys are still children and have not matured yet so anything could happen. He is the told how to blow on the shell and does so. Ralph also seems to do a very odd thing, every time he is exited or pleased about something he seems to stand on his head. This may be symbolising that everything is going to be turned upside down.

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As Jack is introduced he seems to have a lot of power which Ralph seems to admire.

As they have a vote for chief Ralph is seen to be very popular with everybody except for piggy as piggy trusted his to keep his name a secret but he betrays his trust showing that he may not be a very nice person after all.

After the election Ralph admires Jack as his ‘grey shorts were sticking to him with sweat,’ and that he had ‘tried to get over that hill to see if there was water all round.’ Ralph ...

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